Forever Wild pursuing three land purchases

MONTGOMERY -- The Forever Wild board of trustees today authorized buying three tracts of land across the state.

Trustees approved buying more than 2,500 acres at the Barbour Wildlife Management Area, one of the largest and oldest state-owned public hunting areas. They also authorized pursuing 2,125 acres in Jackson County, which would add land adjacent to Forever Wild's Wall of Jericho, a popular destination for hikers and horseback riders. They also voted to buy 30 more acres on Baldwin County's Weeks Bay.

The purchases are being negotiated, and the purchase prices are not made public until the deals are closed.

Today's meeting was the first presided over by Gunter Guy Jr., Gov. Robert Bentley's new director of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"It's something I look forward to coming in to every day," Guy said. "I have a passion for the outdoors and I have a passion for Alabama's natural resources."

Supporters of Forever Wild plan to ask the Legislature to reauthorize the program in the upcoming legislative session, a move Guy said he supports.

"We must support reauthorization of Forever Wild funding as is," Guy said.